Refrigerating apparatus



Dec. 30, 1930. P. FARMER REFRIGERATINQ APPARATUS Filed Nov. 18, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 \INVENTOR. ,Eitemo'n firmer lwz'f 44414 ATTORNEY.

Dec. 30, 1930. P. FARMER REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 18. 1927 2 Sheets-shat 2 Patented Dec 30, 1930 UNITED STATES PATTERSON FARMER, 015 DETROIT, MICH IG nnrnrannarrne arranarrrs Application filed November 18, 1927. serial 3T0. 234,071.

This invention relates to a refrigerating apparatus and has to do particularly with that type of automatic refrigerating apparatus known commercially as domestic refriga erators, and the design, arrangement, and

7 more food compartments including a suitable cooling unit operatively connected to the refrigerating unit. fwo of the/most important problems connected with these domestic re- -frigerators has been a suitable location for the refrigerating machine and parts thereof and the cooling of the condenser, either by" air or water. These two problems have been directly connected, particularly where air cooled condensers are concerned, for the reason that the positioning of the refrigerating apparatus directly aflects the eficient cooling of the condenser, particularly where all the parts of the refrigerating apparatus, including the compressor, motor and condenser, are compactly and integrally mounted.

It is the object of the present invention to H provide a novel domestic refrigerating unit, the condenser of which is separated from the rest of the refrigerating mechanism and the box, condenser and refrigerating mechanism of which are so designed and so cooperate as to present a very compact assembly to aficiently and directly cool the condenser in ad.- dition to separating the condenser from the direct heating influence of the other parts of the refrigerating mechanism. This is accomplished by positively spacing the back of the cabinet from the wall by means of suitable projections on the back of the cabinet, locat ing the motor and compressor in the bottom part of the cabinet and positioning a condenser unit at the back of the cabinet and between the spacing extensions, a suitable aperture being provided in the bottom of the cabinet whereby the condenser is positioned opposite into the bottom part of the cabinet through the condenser.

Fig. 1 isa perspective view illustrating a domestic refrigerating cabinet embodying the features of my invention and showing in particular the positioning of the condensing unit on the outside of the cabinet and between the spacing extensions.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation illustrating particularly the positioning of the refrigerating mechanism at the lower part of the cabinet and showing the positioning of the fan as in alignment with the motor and spaced from the compressor.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the lower compartment of the cabinet and illustrating the referred manner of arranging the cabinet rame, condenser and the power units of the refrigerating mechanism.

Fig. 4 illustrates my invention as embodied in a slightly modified form of construction,

till

the cabinet itself being recessed at its lower back portion to accommodate the condenser and provide for the positive circulation of air therethrough.

ln illustrating the present invention 1 have shown the same as embodiedin connection with a domestic refrigerating cabinet of the single compartment type having a compartment for the refrigerating apparatus in the lower part, but it will be readily understood that my invention may be embodied in refrigerating cabinets of difi'erent types and designs, both as to the refrigerating and food compartments and the compartment for the power units.

The standard cabinet which I have illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 may be generally designated 1 and maycomfirise an upper compartment 2 with a suita 1e cooling unit 3 and a lower compartment 4 for receiving the main power units of the refrigerating mechanism, such as the compressor 5 and t 6. The sides of the compartment are preferabl closed in as shown in Fig. 3. The front of iihe compartment 4 is provided with a suitable screen or louvers 7, and the lower back e motor aperture 9 as will be later described.

50 a suitable fan on the motor for inducing air Secured to the back 8 of the cabinet and spaced from the bottom are two suitable spacmembers 10 and 11. These two members are adapted to be positioned against the room wall and thus form a sort of fine or passageway between the baclr 8 of the cabinet and the wall. They are spaced from the bottom of the cabinet a suitable distance so as to provide a suitable inlet at the side for receiving the cooler air around the bottom of the unit.

A condenser 12 preferably of the compact narrow radiator type having suitablecooling fins is positioned at the back of the'cabinet and at the bottom thereof in registry with the aperture 9. The condenser completely closes g the aperture 9 and is of less thickness than the distance between the back 8 of the cabinet and the space from the wall. in other words, the spacing members 10 and 11 extend a reater distance from the back 8 of the cabinet than the condenser, condenser shell, or the receiver 13. A suitable fan 14 is preferably placed on the motor shaft and the motor and the fan are preferably positioned in alignment with the aperture 9, the compressor 5 being preferably positioned at the opposite end of the compartment.

In operation the fan blades will be positioned to draw air inwardly through the condenser 12 and whenever the motor is operated it will be obvious that the fan will induce a current of air from the outside of the compartment 4 through the condenser and force the same past the motor through the compartment instead of merely circulating the air around inside the compartment itself. Due to this induced draft created by the operation of the fan it will be obvious that the currents of air will be drawn in around the bottom of the members 10 and I1 and back of the condenser 12 where they will be drawn through the condenser to efiiciently and effectively cool the same. To a certain extent air will be drawn downwardly through the space provided between the back 8 of the cabinet and the two members 10 and 11. Regardless of where the air is drawn from, it will be obvious that when the motor is operated that all the air passing through the condenser 12 will be drawn from the outside of the cabinet and then forced through the compartment 4.

Thus all the air drawn through the cdndenser during the operation of the motor will be comparatively cool air to produce a positive cooling efiect upon the condenser instead of merely circulating the air around the inside of the compartment 4: which will be measurably heated by the motor and compressor.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4e the cabinet is provided with a compartment 20 similar to the compartment 4, but the rear end of the compartment 20 is of less width than the upper portion of the cabinet with the result that a space 21 is provided atthe back of the compartment 20 in which may be positioned a suitable condenser 22 similar in construction to the condenser 12. The back wall of the compartment 20 is preferably provided with an aperture similar to the aperture 9 of slightly less size than the condenser 22. The con denser 22 of course is of less depth than the space 21 and is positioned a short distance from the bottom of the compartment 20. The back of the condenser is preferably open as well as the bottom thereof whereby when the 7 fan 1% is operated a positive draft of air will be drawn in from the bottom and back of the condenser and forced through the same, past the motor 5, and out the front of the compar ment 20.

it will be understood that in its preferred form the condenser 12 will have two sides and top enclosed as shown in Fig. l but that if desired all of the sides may be enclosed or all may be open with approximately equal results. It will also be understood that the arrangement of the motor and compressor may be altered considerably with similar alteration of the form and positioning of the condenser while at the same time still retaining the idea of setting up an induced draft to draw the air from the outside of the cabinet through the condenser and then entering into and through the compartment containing the power unit. 1

What I claim is: i

1. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having a storage compartment with cooling means therein and a compartment positioned adjacent the first 1 named compartment, spacing means for spacing the back of the cabinet from the room wall, a motor and compressor positioned in said second named compartment, a small aperture in the rear wall of said second named I compartment and positioned at one end thereof in alignment with said motor and a relatively large aperture in the front wall of said second compartment, condensing means positioned between the spacing means and over said aperture in'the rear wall and spaced from the bottom of said second named compartment, and means adjacent the small aperture in said compartment fr inducing a current of air through said aperture and through said condenser, whereby during the operation of said air inducing means the air passing firstly through the condenser and then over the motor and compressor will come from the outside of second named compartment.

-2. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having a storage compartment and cooling means therein, a chamber positioned beneath said storage compartment for receiving a motor and compress01, the front of'said chamber having a rela tively large opening and the sides of said chamber being closed andthe back of said chamber being provided with a relatively meaeee small aperture in alient with said motor, a fan on said motor shaft adjacent the small aperture and a condenser positioned on the back of the chamber and covering said small aperture, the fan blade of said fan being positioned to induce a current of air first throu h said aperture and condenser and then past t 6 motor and out through the front opening of said chamber. p

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

PATTERSON FARR. 

